Jared Smith, '08 graduate of G-A, attends NFL Combine

GREENCASTLE — Most athletes dream of one day reaching the pinnacle of their respective sport. Few actually make it a reality.

For Jared Smith, that feat is now just a phone call away.

A 2008 graduate of Greencastle-Antrim, Smith recently concluded his college football career at the University of New Hampshire, emerging as a highly-regarded defensive tackle by scouts from within the National Football League.

The attention translated into a prestigious opportunity, with Smith receiving an invitation to the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine held in Indianapolis.

During the four-day event which concluded on Tuesday, Smith had the chance to showcase his talents in front of executives, coaches and scouts from all 32 NFL teams, attempting to leave a lasting impression before the upcoming draft at the end of April.

Measuring in as a 6-3, 302-pound interior lineman, Smith was put under a microscope alongside the other 332 invitees, with prospective employers evaluating physical and mental attributes through workouts, medical exams, psychological testing and interviews.

His time of 5.08 seconds in the 40-yard dash placed him in the middle of the pack among defensive lineman in attendance while his 28 bench-press repetitions at 225 pounds was above average for players that shared the position.

Projected as a possible late-round selection in April's NFL Draft prior to the combine, Smith's performance likely maintained, or potentially even furthered interest in him around the league.

"I thought he represented himself well," said G-A head football coach Chuck Tinninis, who coached Smith in high school. "He's the first guy from Greencastle to ever be invited to the combine, which makes it even more special. We're really proud of him and we're all rooting for him."

During his senior season at New Hampshire, Smith recorded 40 total tackles, including 10 for a loss, while registering four sacks and two forced fumbles. His production earned him numerous accolades, headlined by an invite to participate in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game earlier this month, an event that brings together draft-eligible prospects from across the country, thus acting as a hotbed for pro scouts.

Here, Smith showed he belonged against the nation's elite, finishing the game with two sacks while alleviating some concerns commonly associated with players hailing from FCS schools (Football Championship Subdivision), formally known as Division I-AA.

In football, New Hampshire is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, a conference comprised of smaller universities considered to be a step below FBS programs (Football Bowl Subdivision).

Still, despite churning out far fewer NFL-caliber players then FBS conferences such as the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12, the CAA tends to produce a periodic gem, including Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco drafted out of Delaware.

Considering the inevitable presumptions of coming from a lesser-known school, earning an invite to the combine was Smith's first significant step toward defying the odds.

Page 2 of 2 - "He's a big, strong guy that possesses good speed for his size," Tinninis said. "He fell through the cracks of going strictly D-I out of high school, which is how he ended up at New Hampshire. Being from a smaller school, he held his own at the combine against guys from big-time programs. He's going to get a shot, whether he's drafted or picked up afterwards, so now it's just a matter of waiting for that opportunity."